Facepiece



Aug 14, 1945.

w. P. I YANT FACEPIECE Filed Dec. 13. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J I INVENIOR. WILLIQM F! Y BY ATTORNEY Au 14, 1945. A 2,382,364

FACEPIEGE Filed Dec. 13, 1941 i 5 SheetsSheet 2' INVENTCRL. 1 WILLIAM F! Yfiylfili BY I 2 #Qf;

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 v 31% I t Q. -s eigh us". (c1. 128 141) u This invention relat s to ah imbrf'ove'rfiefit ih' a invieht'io 'w i ch mstmte ,thgljprincip e iii- I duit connected to a source of respirable air. The body portion of the facepiece is sufiiciently concave in order to accommodate the nose and to extend sufficiently under the chin to provide an In others, such as the self-contained type ofapparatus, these exhalation valvesare not used since;

the exhaled air is discharged into the. inletopenterial and returned through the same opening for rebreathing. An inturned and flexible and'slightly forwardly shaped lip 5, as illustrated, is made integral' wi h h o n s orti n h facepi ce substantial width with the inner periphery 511 s i htly ma. emns cth n t e si a thc..riqin of" engagement or juncturewith the facepiece body. This lip forms a fluid tightseal withthe face when the facepiece v is placed in protective positionflnd-id inade er sufiicientIy thin material to yield readily to pressure exertedby the face and has adequate .resilience to maintain. the S al f rm' d- This ulex end m 1ae1y about the inner; peripheral f portionof the "face: piece as illustrated in Fig. 3. and Qthe width of the lip ca qni ade' suflicientl-y arge t that e I SUI .b h .air h n he accp ee erts a pressure against the facepiece and augmer ts the. seal, produced by. the resilience of vthe materiallandl, {consequent pressur against. the face. An absorbentqpad airman placed; I as i1lustrated,-in1 'ig. 12, betwen thelip and opening 2.to absorb saliva and preventits flow down the inletconhection. This ,may ,be anchored. .to the body by means of a fastener which is;.an chored tmthe. materialroflthe body. As; anl example an insert. 3 l fitted in the inlet-connection 3 carries a fastenerf 3 2 which acts as} a hold: downl-for anabsorbent pad 30 between theinlet opening and the lip 5. For some purposear it may be advisable to extend the lower portion of the lipixpzfornfn a hin-restthat will come up onto the chin. Such-aniarrangementdnsures.a spac-v ing ofthe mouth from-the front of .the facepiece and: provides breathingr chamber; togive better respiratoryr conditions. The lateral orcheek portions 6 of the facepiece e tendoVer-the. lower portion ofthe cheek and j termlna-teabelow the eyesto? provide (unobstructed 1visionr; YY "Theseflap like-portions give-armore comfortable fit-to the face by distributingthe pressure exerted by head straps x-l- 'attached 120 each, .of these-,portions for holding the facepiece protective p sition. For some purposes; I as=:for'cold weather use,-it is desirable: to lineJtheface engaging-surface of the body to the inner" e'd'geJSa of the lip with aflining of chamoispsuede 011 otherzsuitable leather linings wool andicotton'can be used;=- 5- 1 It is an important feature ofwthisuinvention and one rwhioh can beiappliedr-to a all types of facepieces to Y provide ;:some' form of 1 freely or readily iextensible vmeansvincorporated 1 in the material -of the body: of the'fa-cepiece and positionedto give ana'djlustable's and improved fit offthe-facepiece tosthe wearer.== 3 Such avfacepiece also 1 yields to movement of the chin "01 mouth such as: is rmadei-inwiordinary speed without rdis-. comforts It ha'sxbeen foundrthat by incorporate 5 tional yieldability and potential enlargement in size can be incorporated in the facepiece body. This, when properly localized, is sufficient to give adjustment-in fitting adequate-tocover the range of variations occurring in face size which do not i 1? :-.disturb the seal formed by the lip.

Another feature of this invention which is limited to the general type of facepiece illustrated I in Figs. l-to 5, inclusive, is that the nose portion of the facepiece is made large enough to accoml5 modate all sizes'of face and to fit the individual ing and is then passed through pu'rifyin'g ma- --face; -A layer of formable reinforcing material 8 is embedded in'the rubber material of the nose portion and for ordinary purposes a layer of screen material is satifactory provided it can bereadily set and is not too heavy. This reinforcing material preferably is a layer of wire or screenmaterial embedded'in the material of the body and rigidenought retain the composite material ina position f tted to the face. The inward lipprovidesjs orn'e' variancein accommopiece of this invention is" that 'a single size of construction is substantially universally adaptable-and provides in combination withthe lip 5 anefiective seal with the facaof a wearer. .The layer onscreen" material. should. extend downwardly to cover .the nose adequately about the bridge orupper section and directly, below for a short distanceli 'n orderto position; the affected portion of. the lip ,and brin g it. up against the face to-sea l,; this eingamatter which can be 9 be readily,determined by-fihose familiar with facepiece manufacture.:- v

In order to hold the;facepiece-insealed engagement with ,the nose and adjacent faceportions,- although not. indispensable; a strap l! is attached by;,stitchin g 012a suitable ,adhesiveIto the upp er partof zthe nose of thefacepiece to insure, in combination with the'lip. and formable nature-of the nose portion-a positive. sealing engagement. 1 In applying the facepiece to the 0 wearer, the noseportion isqsetor fitted against the nose-sufficiently so that the lip portion 5 extending about'thispart of the facepiece is placed and retained in contact with the face. The large surface area-and flexibility of the lip insures when subjected to the force of the reinforcing layer complete engagement-of the face about this ortion.- It is preferred that-theupper extent. of the facepieceaboutthis section be shaped to. provide an tout-turned margin 9 extending-beyond the lip:which,--ifextended a small amount, can be-used' as a support for the bridge of goggles orspectacles,- vwhich aids in holding the facepiece in position. 2';

-It is recognized-that an inwardly :directed' lip hasbeen used heretofore; butnot having the characteristics as defined above.i -It=is further recognized that a formable strip has been used about the nose, but the layerof material in combination with the type of lip used provides a 0, distinct improvement-in thistypeof lfacepiece. Asa further means of adjustment and consequent comfortable feel, the corrugations-are operative when properly. positioned .to render more adjustment andin combinationwith the other features '5 provide a desirable facepiece of this-type.

assaaoe tion of the facepiece to obtain less restrained and more :free movement between the nose and chin portions of the body. :It is apparent that a sufficient number of these cor'rugationsshould be provided to give the yield desired and for good re-'.

sults the corrugations themselvesmay be about A. in size at their base; Since the movement of the chin. is greatest at its outer extremity, it

isdesirable that. the greatest yield be provided between the nose and outer extent ofthe chin. Ordinarily, these movements-create: a stress in the material; and by placing these yieldable means or corrugations acrossthe line, of stress, theac tual stressformed is materiallylessened and substantially free and unrestrained movement results. 'By placing the corrugations as illustrated in the drawings, the greatest amount of free yield isIobtained at the location to give comfort or yield to movements of the mouth andwithout disturbing the seal of the. body to the face. In the. event the faoepieceln its-'normal state fits too snugly to the 'face, the extension of the yield-; ing means provides an enlargement insi'ze to fit the wearer. I I l As another application of thisfeature of the invention, it is advantageous .to place corruga tions H in each cheek portion of,a gas mask [2 illustrated inFigs. 6, 7 and 8. In this type of facepiece, the inlet opening I3 is positionedabout thenose and is of considerable size which makes it. difficult to form yielding portions in this sec tion.; Consequently, :for this type of facepiecexit .is necessary that the corrugations be positioned actual. engagement of the material of. the body with the face. Head straps l5 holdsthe facepiece in position and are drawn tightly enough to; properly position the facepiece on tothe .wearer" d to bring the material into sealing engagement with the face. r i i Another application of my inventionis-to inr corporate yieldable sections as illustrated in'Fig'sl r 9, .10 and 11 in a facepiece which includes eye-' pieces and is similar to the type ofprotective device illustrated in Figs, 6, 7 and: 8 ,Inthis type of device, it is difilcult to provide one that can be madeto fit the variations in size orface and also to disposethe eyepieces in close proximity to the eyes in order to increase therangeofvision; To incorporate a yieldable elementinto the facepiece material will permit elongationin directions suificient to accommodate thevariations in size to provide a universally fittingfacepiece and one which is such a construction that Itheeyepieces can be spaced properly anddisposed; close proximityto the eyes of the wearer. In ,thisembodiment, corrugation 2|, which as illustrated "in. cludes a single element but which may be so constructed as to include any number desired within .the limitsof space provided is placed about each eyepiece I4. In orderto obtain some yield in the lower section of the facepiece, the corruga tiori extendsdowntoward's the chin. In order to draw theeyepieces close to the face, a suppieg mental-band or strap 20 isplaced on" eacl'isidefof the iacepiece and attached in such: a manner that stress-:canbe applied laterally. and draw theeye piecesawayi from eachother to. provide the abnormal spacing. or the, eyes of ithewearer. The efiect of this. isssomewhat the same: as obtained in the application of a goggle to a protective position aLtthissection to collapseandalong with the yield of. the inner portion 2 la causes the eyepieces to be, drawn inwardly towards the face, ;this being can upongthe sizeqof corrugation employed or the.

sincenthesez bands can: be: jdrawn if. desired (and.

; cambe moved to l-properlyposition I the eyepieces togive thermaximumwision. Extending the corrugationtupwardly about the nose as illustrated in, the inner portion: 2 l a and in conjunction with the s pplemental strapsgthe eyepieces are normallyseparated for [the normal and can be moved toe; aygreater span for those requiring such a spacing. 1 {Ihegextentof adjustment possible since the eiiect otthis expansible element is to provide justment in sizetofqthe facepiece depends number-so employed. Formost .purposesand to reduce the expense as much; as possible, a single corrugation of; about. A?" in" size atl-its base will giyea range of adjustment sufiicient to accommodatethe range of size needed for this "type of tdevice. 1 w I Itis realized thatthe attachment of the supplemental band 20 to'the facepiece propercan be made in several .ways.; The manner illustrated the drawing .is to actually mold the buckle carrying portion directly when forming a facepiece By; attaching the strap: close to" the 1eyepieces, it thenoverlapsthe outer eyepieceportion il jc and. pressure applied causes the corrugation due totthe inward direction of the force applied :by the drawingsof' the straps It is believed ap-y parent that by; attaching theoutermost end: of

thejorceis directedin an inward direction gen eraily an d thus causing :theeyepieces to 'be dis posed towards that direction which places them close to the e es and in reases the field of vision;

The extending dowfnward portions 2| b provide some adjustment in the lower portion ofj the omp lished' in the embodiment illustrated 6' whilethe upper-lateral portion 2min .9m, the lower. portionslle. give some adiustability impositioning: the eyepieces in this direction. The upperportion also per;

mits some adjustmentabout the forehead. "other than effectinga change; in positionof the eyein a similar manner and is efiectivein relieving any strainsthatemay be caused in wearingthe device. In some (3315885117113 mask is connected to a stationary container supplying oxygen'tothe' mask and certain; novementsof thefface when soconnected cause themask to be moved out ofja comfortable; fitting position. In this cono the facepiece H is generally attached 1 to he Qwsemsupmy by means of an ordinary tube' and n order- .to providesafetyismade sufficiently thestr'ap. to,thesperipheralportion of the mask 21d," and the portions 21c under the eye-:; pie ,tofgive ,yield in a longitudinal direction.

'I'liis esembles A somewhat the same action; that p heavy and thus gives' little yield to any ordinary stresses that would be applied in movement of the head. With this arrangement, it-has been found that sufficient yield isxincorporated to accommodate the ordinary" movements of lthe wearer. I Y This embodiment illustrates a constructiorr offacepiece which it hasbeen foundprovides 'a substantial range of adjustment in all directions and does not affect the seal that is produced "in thema'rginal flat portion of facepiece material when the body is applied to the face and by means of head harness is brought into a protective position. The advantages of providing'better sight and-giving a more comfortablefit and'allowing. for ordinary wearing movements makes the construction one that renders the wearing of -such a protective device'more comfortable and insures the maintenance of the sear between the facepiece material and the wearer. It isfrealized that variations can be made in the incorporation of such a yieldable element in the material of the body and that other types of-yieldable'ele ments may be substituted although the typelof yieldable element2l illustrated sectionally Fig, 11 is preferred. 1

In the embodiments, the yieldable' meansis represented by corrugations vvhicharefOrmed in the material; butit is' possible to use a form of pleat or fold whichgives' surplus material opera tive to" yield to the small pressure ei'ierted in the ordinarymovementof the chinand responsive to' the slight rorce c'reate'a' in normal and 'eomfortable movement/but it'hasf been foundithat corrugations provide the most effective and suitable yielding means withoutinterfering withtlie. seal of the facepiece tothewearer'." While other modifications can be madefof the invention as described in tIlEfGIIlbOdllllI'ltS illllS- trated, the" embodiments describe the principle of my inventio'rrand it is intended' to be understood that other embodiments can; be I made and modifications thereof and m in'veiinon :is to be.

restricted only claims.

""I claim: r

l. A facepiece comprising a body of protective material "shaped to" generally conform to the facial contour' of the wearer, an inlet connection, means t'e seal the body to'thewearer, means attached'tothe material to retain thefacepiece in a protectiveposition and exert pressure thereon-and accomplish a sealed fit to the face, and

by the scope of v the appended at least one corrugation formed integrally in the body 'transversely thereof to yieldably jrelieve un comfortable stresses exerted by mounting and by movements of the mouth during'wearing of the facepiece without'interfering with'the seal of the body to the wearer. a v V "21 A'facepiece comprising a body of protective material shaped to generally conform to the face of the wearer, an inlet opening in the material, means to seal the body to the Wearerfljmeans attached to the'r'naterial and arranged to main-. tain the facepiece in a protective position in re-' lation "to the face of the wearer and a plurality of-corrugations formed in the body transversely thereof and yieldable to stresses produced in the material'in assembling the body of materialto the face of the wearer and during use.

:3. A facepiece comprising abody of protective material formed to resemble the general contour of the face, aninlet opening in thefmaterial, a headstrap attached to the material for maintaining the facepiece in protective position relative to't the' face, .shapedcorrugations integrally formed in'the body'and disposed across the direction of stress to respondto the stress exerted in applying the facepiece-to the wearer to yield thereto and accomplish a range of adjustment in'lmounting and fitting the facepiece to the face and responsivevin yielding to'rmovements of the face while in a-protective position.

Afacepiece including abody of protective material formed to'enclose the'faceof the wearer and provided with an inlet opening,-eyepieces disposed in the material in spaced' relation, a head harness connectableto-the 1 facepiece body arranged to place a and maintain the facepiece in proper protective position, and corrugations integrally formedin the body andhavinga portion that extends-abouteach'of the eyepieces and extends upwardly betwe'en'them, and a downcomfortin the wearing of thefacepiece.

51A facepie'ce "comprising 'a concave shaped body of protective material to enclose the mouth and nose of a-weare'r'and having an inlet opening, aninwardly directed'flexible lip integral with the materialtand arranged to engagethe face and seal the-material'to the face, the nose portionof'the material including a f ormable layer in front of the attachment of the lip at this locationan'd extending downwardl sufficiently to operate as a fitting means of the material and lip about the'nose of thewearen'means attached to thebody of the material for applying the facepiece to the head of'a wearer, and the body 'being provided 'with'at least one integrally formed transverse'corrugation to make the material resp'onsive' to movements of themouth without interfering' with'the sealing engagement of thelip withthe race. 1 g 1 6; A faeepiece comprising i a coiicave shaped body of protective material to enclose the mouth and'nose of a wearer and having an inlet opening, a flexible and resilient lip inwardly and slightly forwardly directed in thefacepiece and of an inner' pe'ripheryless thanthe periphery of the juncture of the lip to' the material, the nose portionof the material including a formable layer in front of the attachment of the lip 'at this location and"extending-downwardly 'sufliciently to operate as a fittin'g'me'a'n s of the material and lip aboutthe nose or the wearer,- means attached to the body for holdingj'the facepiece in protective position, jand at least one transverse corrugation formed in the body 'tomalgej the material responsive to I movements of. the [mouth without interfering with the bodyof the, liplw'it h, the face, and a moistureabsorbent pad anchored to the pro-, tective material between the lip and inlet opening.

7. A'facepiece including ;a body; of protective material' formedlto enclosetheface of the wearer, fiycpieces disposed in, thematerial in spaced relation', a ,head harness lconnected tohthe facepiece material and arranged to place and maintain the material inproperprotective position, an inlet opening, andcomprising, a corrugation integrally molded into, the ,body touextend about each of theeyepieces and having upper and lower laterally extending portions connected beyond the pressure to the material and effect collapse of the underlying portionof the corrugation to accomplish a yield of the material in a lateral direction. v r i 8. A respirator mark comprising a laye'rof rent of the mask.

silient material shaped to snugly fit the face of the wearer around the nose, cheeks and chin, and 1 protruding'outwardly fromthe mouth and nostrils where said layer is formed with horizontal corrugations. for the purpose of permittingthe free and unrestricted use of the mouth andchin of the wearer in talking without destroying the WILLIAM P. YANT. 

